Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 10 December 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# First up, we have cricket: Today’s final T20 between the Proteas and Ireland’s women in Benoni, Gauteng, will have no bearing on the series which South Africa already clinched by winning the first two encounters. They won the first one in Cape Town by 105 runs after captain Laura Wolvaardt scored an undefeated 115, as well as the second one in Paarl by 65 runs. After today, the two countries will face off in three one-day matches: in East London on Saturday; Gqeberha on Tuesday; and Johannesburg next Friday.  

Meanwhile, India defeated South Africa’s men by 101 runs in the first T20 in Cuttack. Hardik Pandya scored an unbeaten 59 as the hosts posted 175 for six. Lungi Ngidi claimed three wickets. In reply, Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets to become the second Indian to reach 100 wickets, as the Proteas were bowled out for 74, their lowest total in T20s. The second of the five match will be played in Chandigarh tomorrow.

# Rugby: SA Rugby has standardised the age at which tackling is permitted for young players, which will see children in the under-5 to under-8 age groups participate exclusively in non-contact forms such as TAG and Touch Rugby. Full contact and tackle rugby will only start in the under-9 age group after following a structured programme, which will build foundational skills such as falling, rolling, wrestling and absorbing contact.  South Africa is currently the only major rugby nation without a clearly defined age at which children may begin tackling.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks will inaugurate their new permanent stadium in Christchurch with a Test against France in July next year. The Te Kaha Stadium replaces Lancaster Park, which had to be demolished following a deadly earthquake in 2011. New Zealand could only play five Tests in the city since, on a temporary field not fit for bigger games. All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson says the match against France at the start of the new Nations Championship will be a historic occasion for Christchurch.

# And tennis: The Australian Open has released its entry lists for next year, with 99 of the world’s top-100 men and 98 of the top-100 women heading to Melbourne. World number one Carlos Alcaraz of Spain headlines the men’s field, which includes defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and ten-time champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus leads the women’s list, which includes defending champion Madison Keys of America and Poland’s Iga Swiatek. Eight wildcards and 16 qualifiers will round out the 128-player fields in both singles events.

Stay tuned for more news………….